President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has revealed the prayers he offered to Almighty Allah during his recent spiritual journey to Makkah, saying he asked for wisdom and resilience to continue serving Nigeria.
The President made this known on Monday while reflecting on his Umrah pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he was granted the rare privilege of entering the Holy Ka’abah alongside members of the Nigerian delegation.
Tinubu expressed profound gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the honour, describing the experience as historic and deeply significant to him.
Sheikh Dahlulah Muthawal of Masjid al-Haram led the President into the Holy Ka’abah, where he offered prayers of gratitude to Almighty Allah for the opportunity to serve as Nigeria’s President.
Reflecting on the experience, Tinubu disclosed that he had made a similar pilgrimage before the 2023 presidential election, when he prayed for Allah’s blessings on his political ambition. He said he had promised to return to give thanks if his prayers were answered.
According to him, his latest prayers focused on obtaining the wisdom and resilience required to continue leading the country.
“I asked for wisdom and resilience to continue to serve the people. I know that prayer has been granted. Before the 2023 election, I did the same thing. I asked Allah to bless my Umrah then, and He did. And I promised that I would come back to thank Him,” he said.
The President also reflected on the message in Surah Aal-Imran, Verse 26 of the Holy Qur’an, which affirms that Almighty Allah is the ultimate owner of sovereignty and has the authority to give and take power as He wills.
He described political authority as a divine trust that must be exercised with humility, responsibility and dedication to the people, noting that no position of power is permanent.
Tinubu said his experience had further strengthened his faith and commitment to Nigeria, describing his emergence as President and Commander-in-Chief as a rare blessing from Almighty Allah.
“Out of many millions of people, to be the President and Commander-in-Chief is a favour that only Almighty God can do to a human being,” he stated.
Reaffirming his commitment to national development, the President said his determination to pursue the country’s progress had become stronger, promising to work towards prosperity and shared opportunities for Nigerians.
“My commitment to Project Nigeria is higher. I am determined to usher in prosperity and fully develop the country, consistent with the wish of Allah and the support of the people,” he said.
On the economy, Tinubu expressed optimism about the progress recorded under his administration, describing the country’s economic foundation as solid and its emergence from a difficult period as encouraging.
“The foundation is solid, and the economy has come out of the dark tunnel. This is inspiring,” he said.
He also stressed the need for greater investment in young Nigerians, warning that the decisions taken by present leaders would shape how future generations judge their legacy.
“We need to build a future for our youth. If we don’t invest in their future, how do we want to be remembered as leaders 50 years from now?” the President asked.
